BUT IT’S NOT JUST THE PROS TOSSING AROUND ADA, OHIO’S FAMOUS PIGSKINS. IN FACT, MORE THAN ONE MILLION KIDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH FOOTBALL – AND MAYBE THAT INCLUDES SOME OF YOU!
BUT OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE SEEN FEWER AND FEWER YOUNG FOOTBALLERS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HEAD INJURIES.
FOOTBALL PLAYERS FACE HIGH CONCUSSION RISKS. A CONCUSSION IS TEMPORARY UNCONSCIOUSNESS CAUSED BY A BLOW TO THE HEAD – AND REPEATED CONCUSSIONS CAN LEAD TO BRAIN DAMAGE. UP NEXT, ANDY ROSE TELLS GIVES US DETAILS ABOUT FOOTBALL’S HEALTH CRISIS.
WITH SO MUCH FOCUS ON PREVENTING CONCUSSION IN THE BIG LEAGUES NOW, YOU MIGHT THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS IN STOPPING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN
YOUTH SPORTS. BUT A NEW REPORT FROM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD SAYS THE COMPANY'S INSURANCE CLAIMS FOR CONCUSSIONS INCREASED BY 43 PERCENT OVER A SIX-YEAR
PERIOD ENDING IN 2015. AND THERE WAS A 71 PERCENT SPIKE IN REPORTED CONCUSSIONS FOR KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 19.
MOST OF THOSE HEAD INJURIES WERE REPORTED DURING THE FALL, JUST AS FOOTBALL SEASON KICKS OFF...
MANY HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL LEAGUES ARE TAKING A TOUGHER STAND AGAINST CONCUSSIONS, WITH THE STATE OF WASHINGTON PASSING A SO-CALLED "SHAKE IT OFF LAW."
IT REQUIRES INJURED KIDS TO GET MEDICAL CLEARANCE BEFORE RETURNING TO A GAME, OR EVEN PRACTICE. HELMET MANUFACTURERS ARE EVEN OFFERING THEIR OWN SENSORS TO GIVE COACHES REAL-TIME INFORMATION ON THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF HARD HITS. IN FACT, IT'S BELIEVED THE INCREASE IN CONCUSSIONS MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO MORE ACCURATE TESTING AND THE NEW AWARENESS.
WITH TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M ANDY ROSE.
Instructional Links
Website Article: KidsHealth, Concussions
Lesson Plan: PBS LearningMedia, The Facts about Concussions | Blended lesson includes videos & teacher’s guide.
Magazine Article: EBSCOhost, Scholastic News, Game Changer, Dec. 5, 2016 | Article discusses decision to ban tackling in youth football. May need password.